Frontier Army Warrior

Chapter 1198 That's My Family's Money

This was one of Wen Cheng's personal officials. Seeing that Prefect Wu looked terrified, he couldn't bear it and said those words to him.

However, Wu Ruolin was well aware that she was doomed.

Not only were fifty or sixty thousand taels of silver missing from the treasury, but the imperial edict and official seal that he had hidden at home could certainly not be kept hidden either.

Faced with the ferocious Zhenxi Army soldiers, no matter how much wealth you have, they can turn it upside down.

I only regret that I didn't dig three feet into the ground and bury those things that I envied more thoroughly.

Wu Ruolin was trembling as she was taken to the Jingxi Prefecture government office.

Although he wasn't put in shackles, he lost his former glory. Forget about the sedan chair; he was instead escorted step by step to the government office, which was two streets away.

Moreover, along the way from his house to the government office, many people stood on the street, watching with curiosity as the once imposing prefect, head bowed, moved with heavy steps toward the tall government office gate.

In the main hall of the government office, Wen Cheng looked at Wu Ruolin, who was standing below him, with a heavy expression.

On the desk lay an account book, the very one that Wu Ruolin had hidden away.

Wen Cheng tapped the table with his gavel, silencing the crowd.

"Wu Ruolin, explain to me where all this silver went!"

Now that things had come to this, Wu Ruolin knew there was no point in hiding it anymore. She raised her head and glanced at the Zhenxi soldiers around her.

There were no familiar yamen runners or foremen here; instead, they were all replaced by neatly dressed soldiers from the Zhenxi Army.

"Lord Wen, are you and I officials of the Great Dynasty?"

Wu Ruolin took a deep breath to calm herself down before asking.

Wen Cheng was not fooled and simply shouted in a deep voice.

"Answering questions honestly is your only way out."

"Hehe, you and I are both high-ranking officials. As the saying goes, all land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects. I have already sent the tax silver from Jingxi Prefecture to the imperial court. May I ask, is there anything wrong with it?"

Wen Cheng asked casually, "Do you have a receipt from the imperial court?"

Wu Ruolin opened his mouth. This was done in private. How could the palace eunuch who came to receive the silver leave him any evidence?

Wen Cheng then sneered, "As far as I know, last night you moved all the silver from the treasury to your family's shops. Isn't that embezzlement?"

"That's...that's my family's...silver..."

"Heh heh, how did your silver end up in the imperial treasury?"

"me..."

Wu Ruolin was unable to explain herself.

"Because of your corrupt practices, the soldiers on the front lines are suffering from food and clothing shortages, which has greatly affected the course of the battle. Wu Ruolin, do you know your crime?"

"If you want to punish this prefect, you need the Emperor's decree and the official documents of the court. You, Wencheng, should not be able to convict me privately."

Wen Cheng laughed: "Wu Ruolin, you've committed such a serious crime, do you really think the Emperor would still protect a corrupt official like you?"

Wu Ruolin was intelligent; he figured out the key points, and cold sweat broke out on his brow.

"This prefect wishes to see the Emperor and ask him personally whether I should be punished."

Wen Cheng chuckled and said, "Wu Ruolin, do you really think you're the Minister of Personnel?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Ruolin's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.

"Confess your problems properly and try to get the court to give you lenient treatment. Don't fantasize that others will bend the law for personal gain like you."

Wen Cheng said seriously.

"I... I admit defeat..."

Wu Ruolin managed to utter those words after a long pause.

The Zhenxi No. 2 warship sailed upstream, passing through Sanjiang Prefecture without stopping, and arrived at Shanglin Prefecture.

Upon receiving the news, Bai Jing and Wang Qian were already waiting at the dock, surrounded by generals of the Zhenxi Army and officials of all ranks from the prefecture.

Because Zhenxi No. 2 was moving quickly, the others in Shanglin Prefecture City had not yet received the news.

There was no movement from the Emperor, including from the old ministers of the Great Ancestor Dynasty.

When Wang Qian saw Lin Feng stepping down from the tall Zhenxi No. 2 warship, he felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders and his whole being refreshed.

Bai Jing appeared much more composed, standing steadily on the dock with a smile on her face; no one could tell that she was excited.

A cheer erupted on the dock, followed by a wave of people kneeling down.

Most officials felt that their persistence in the past few days had finally yielded good results, including many generals in the Zhenxi Army.

Surrounded by the crowd, Lin Feng took Bai Jing's hand, with Wang Qian by his side, and they headed into the city.

News of Lin Feng's entry into the city quickly reached the palace.

Emperor Zhao Cun was watching his five hundred imperial guards practice tactical formations on the drill ground.

Squads of Imperial Guards, clad in gleaming armor and wielding sharp weapons, marched in unison, practicing fixed formations.

This team-based training program originated from Lin Feng's script.

Tang Yuan, the commander of the Imperial Guards, rode his warhorse in circles around the drill ground, issuing orders loudly from time to time, causing the entire army to change formations.

Sometimes attacking, sometimes defending.

In full swing.

Emperor Zhao Cun sat high on the observation platform, watching the exercise with great interest.

This was the first army he had ever commanded since becoming emperor, the kind of army that would charge forward at the cost of its life at his command.

At this moment, a young eunuch hurried over to the watchtower.

Standing beside Emperor Zhao Cun was still the Grand Eunuch Zhu Qisheng.

This person is indeed capable. He has served three emperors and still stands firm, in charge of all the eunuchs and maids in the palace and all kinds of affairs.

The young eunuch hurried to the side of the platform and whispered a report to Zhu Qisheng.

"Grand Steward, something terrible has happened! I heard that Regent Lin Feng has entered the city."

Zhu Qisheng was taken aback, his eyes darting around.

Seeing that the Emperor was in high spirits, and that it had been a long time since he had been so happy, how could we disturb his enjoyment at this moment?

He waved his hand, signaling the young eunuch to step back, and then remained standing beside the emperor, occasionally cheering as the formation below the stage changed.

As the exercise drew to a close, the Emperor grew tired and signaled to Zhu Qisheng that it was time to go back and rest.

Zhu Qisheng then stepped forward, took the emperor's hand, and carefully spoke as they walked down from the stage.

"Your Majesty, I heard that Lin Feng has returned."

Zhao Cun shuddered and stared at Zhu Qisheng in astonishment.

"When did this happen?"

"I just received news that they have entered the prefectural city."

Zhao Cun's excited face darkened. He silently descended from the watchtower and only gave his orders when he reached the palace.

"Summon the Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor to see me immediately."

These were his trusted advisors, his right-hand men, and his most reliable foreign ministers.

Zhao Cun couldn't sit still in his palace. After resting for a while, he went to the Imperial Study.

Meanwhile, Grand Chancellor Han Qi and Imperial Censor Cai Lantian also received news of Lin Feng's arrival in the city and were waiting outside the palace gates early on.

The two rushed to the imperial study to meet the emperor.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Lin Feng, he..."

Cai Lantian started shouting as soon as he entered the door.

"Silence."

Seeing Zhao Cun frown, Zhu Qisheng immediately reprimanded him.

Chancellor Han Qi was more cautious and did not rush to express his opinion. Seeing Zhao Cun's gloomy face, he knew that the news had already reached the palace.

"Your Majesty, should we pause our plans?"

Han Qi asked cautiously.